DOWNWARD

downward, down(a)

(adjective) extending or moving from a higher to a lower place; “the down staircase”; “the downward course of the stream”

downward

(adjective) on or toward a surface regarded as a base; “he lay face downward”; “the downward pull of gravity”

down, downwards, downward, downwardly

(adverb) spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position; “don’t fall down”; “rode the lift up and skied down”; “prices plunged downward”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adverb

downward (comparative more downward, superlative most downward)

Toward a lower level, whether in physical space, in a hierarchy, or in amount or value.

At a lower level.

southward

Synonyms

• down, downwards

Antonyms

• up, upwards

Adjective

downward (comparative more downward, superlative most downward)

Moving, sloping or oriented downward.

Located at a lower level.

Anagrams

• downdraw, draw down, drawdown

Source: Wiktionary

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Down"ward, Down"wards, adv. Etym: [AS. ad. See Down, adv., and - ward.]

1. From a higher place to a lower; in a descending course; as, to tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards. "Looking downwards." Pope. Their heads they downward bent. Drayton.

2. From a higher to a lower condition; toward misery, humility, disgrace, or ruin. And downward fell into a groveling swine. Milton.

3. From a remote time; from an ancestor or predecessor; from one to another in a descending line. A ring the county wears, That downward hath descended in his house, From son to son, some four or five descents. Shak.

Down"ward, a.

1. Moving or extending from a higher to a lower place; tending toward the earth or its center, or toward a lower level; declivous. With downward force That drove the sand along he took his way. Dryden.

2. Descending from a head, origin, or source; as, a downward line of descent.

3. Tending to a lower condition or state; depressed; dejected; as, downward thoughts. Sir P. Sidney.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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